Have you given any thought to the moon lately? If not, I hope today’s reflection will lead all of us to a greater appreciation of earth’s only natural satellite. (This post is adapted from my book When the Moon Slips Away.) Let’s begin with a few facts.
Where did the moon come from? The truth is, we don’t know for sure, but one widely accepted theory is that, roughly 4 to 5 billion years ago, a giant protoplanet collided with earth, sending massive amounts of vaporized rock into orbit around earth. Eventually this rock coalesced (due to earth’s gravity) to form the moon. The moon is roughly 238,855 miles from us. Each year it gets farther away from earth at a speed of 1.5 inches a year–about the same speed as your fingernails grow! Since the moon has no atmosphere, temperatures fluctuate widely from 260 degrees F to -243 degrees F. There are no breezes on the moon. The footprints Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin made on the moon in July 1969, are still visible. The flag they planted was designed to look like it was blowing in the wind. Otherwise it would have hung limp.
The moon orbits the earth every 27.3 days. At the same time, it is rotating on its axis. Consequently, it keeps nearly the same side turned toward the earth all the time. So, 40% of the moon we humans had not seen before–until, in 1959, the Soviet unmanned Luna 3 probe sent back grainy photos of the dark side. The first humans to actually see the far side were the three Apollo 8 astronausts in1968. The recent Artemis II astronauts saw even more of the dark side of the moon. One of the mystiques of the moon is the way its gravitational pull affects the earth. The moon’s pull is largely responsibile for the tides of the earth. And some people believe the moon’s pull can cause strange behavior in animals–including homo sapiens. When the moon is full, some people say, “My kids and dog are acting strangely. It must be the full moon!”
Although there are several U.S. flags and the Soviet coat of arms on the moon, international treaties prevent any nation from claiming the moon. Instead, the moon is treated like international waters. The Outer Space Treaty further restricts the use of the moon to peaceful purposes, specifically banning any weapons of mass destruction. Ironically, it’s safer to live on the moon than on earth!
I like some of the things people have said about the moon. Here are four:
- “When I admire the wonders of the sunset or the beauty of the moon, my soul expands in worship of the Creator.” (Mahatma Gandhi)
- I think a future flight to the moon should include a poet, a priest, and a philosopher…so we might get a much better idea of what we saw.” (Michael Collins, Apollo 11 astronaut)
- “The beauty of the moon is hidden in her scars.” (Anonymous)
- “Be the moon and inspire people, even when you’re far from full.” (K. Tolnoe)
All these facts about the moon cannot compare with simply enjoying the moon. There is beauty and mystery in its different phases from thin crescent to round fullness. There is beauty in the different sizes of the moon from huge when it is close to the horizon, to merely ornamental when it is high in the sky. The moon’s changing colors are gorgeous too: pure white, bright yellow, harvest orange, blue, bluish gray, reddish, to name a few. And to think, no matter what color the moon appears to be, all of its light is borrowed from the sun.
Barbara Kingsolver has written a lovely poem entitled “Remember the Moon Survives.” In it she reminds us that despite the moon’s waxing and waning, the moon is always whole. Though the moon seems to slip away at times, it is always there. Even when it seems to disappear, it is always fully present. Some spiritual writers have compared the continuous presence of the moon to God’s presence in our lives–always whole, always fully there. They compare the moon’s gravitational pull, to the gravitational pull of God’s love.
Prayer: Creator of the moon, help me to surrender to your beauty, to your mystery, and to the gravitational pull of your love. Amen.
For reflection:
Did anything in this reflection catch your attention? If so, what was it?
What role (if any) does the moon play in your everyday life? in your spiritual life?
Have you ever had a special experience involving the moon? Would you like to share this experience with us below?
Here are two very short videos about the moon. The first is a 3 min. award-winning poem-video entitled “How to Love the Moon” by Laura Plummer. The second is a 3:30 min. video by French photographer Laurent Laveder called “Playing with the Moon.” It captures individuals just having fun with the amazingly changeable moon. I hope you have time to enjoy both of these videos. And I hope you’ll let us know what you think of them by leaving a comment below.
“How to Love the Moon”:
“Playing with the Moon”:
I welcome your comments below–about the reflection, the reflection questions, the pictures or the videos!
28 Responses
Good morning, Melannie…
Good morning, all…
Good morning, moon!
Thank you, Melannie, for taking things we see every day (in this case mostly night!) and making them seem all the more remarkable! You do this all the time!
Yes, the sun is a must have, but unlike the sun, the moon allows us to gaze upon its mystery and not go blind!
Ah, very wonderful calming, meditative, restorative. A few minutes with each video, what a gift.Thanks so much!
2 gifts that fell out of the sky. I needed that today!
Thanks again Melannie for another uplifting reflection. Today is my son’s birthday. That day 37 years ago I was to be induced, but my doctor called instructing us to go to a hospital in the next county rather than the one close to our house as the maternity department there was “overflowing – always happens during a full moon” she said. So we did that and all was well. My son and my husband are both fans of space, and I even made my grandson’s baby quilt with the moon and the sun.
Thank you for this reflection. “ The moon is always whole.” Some years ago I began to look for the moon in daylight, and now I delight in that presence—God is always present but I need to be aware.
Good morning, Melannie!
“The moon’s changing colors are gorgeous too: pure white, bright yellow, harvest orange, blue, bluish gray, reddish, to name a few.” I really never gave much thought to the moon’s changing colors, but last night, the moon was shining in my room and I noticed a reddish hue because of the cloud formation in front of it. There was such a beauty to it. After reading today’s blog, I’ll pay more attention to the beauty (and colors) of the moon. Thank you for making us aware of something we often take for granted.
I love the calmness of the prayer, Melannie: “Creator of the moon, help me to surrender to your beauty, to your mystery, and to the gravitational pull of your love. Amen.” Looking at the moon each time when the earth allows us the privilege is the most calming and mystical experience.
Blessings,
Father John
Thank you, sister, for this lovely reflection about the moon. I remember years ago, driving north on interstate 5 in California, with incredibly busy traffic, and looked to the east and saw a beautiful full moon. I suddenly realized that moon is the same moon that Jesus looked at when he was on earth. Ever since then, the moon has had special significance to me. It is the moon that Jesus gazed upon, and we are privileged to do so as well.
Just beautiful. I have a new perspective regarding the moon after reading this blog and watching the video’s. I love to go outside when it is a full moon, and then to watch the waxing and waning of the moon too. There is such a peace about it. Thank you Sister for sharing these beautiful videos, but most of all sharing the facts regarding the moon as well.
Touched my heart. Beautiful!!’
Beautifully written poem
Thank you I always took my
children to the window when a full
moon was out
Thank you Melanie
Wow — what a beautiful email to open up and see these 2 awesome videos. I loved them both and gave me motivation to pay attention to the moon. Thanks loads.
Good Morning Sister Melannie,
Such fun facts about our moon. I enjoyed “Playing with the Moon”, very clever. As the moon rises over our lake, the beauty is always amazing.
Thank you for your Reflection this month, “It’s All Love” in Give Us This Day. It was wonderful and appreciated.
Thank you Melannie for another beautiful and inspiring blog, and two powerful videos. Playing with the Moon has the most creative artistry ever! I am also moved by the comment from Gandhi, takes my breath away.
We are a family of “moon lovers” being drawn to watching the moon in all its phases, especially when it is full since childhood. One cannot help but be drawn to the magnificence.
Sadly for me, where I live now is surrounded by buildings and trees and hard to catch the full moon without walking thru half the parking lot late at night to see it , that is if I’m not already sleeping. Still God’s gift is always there, like his love and care for us.
I don’t see the moon every day, and in some sense that fact makes the moon special. I’ve never been troubled with the moon in one shape or another. If it affects my mood, I’m not aware of it. My horoscope classes me as a “moon child” (Cancer) and a “water person.” But I don’t take horoscopes seriously. With the influence of culture, the moon is exotic, out of reach yet close enough to see its craters, imagine a human face on it, believe that wolves howl at it, thank God for Beethoven’s “Moonlight Sonata” (and not just the slow movement), enjoy the popular song “Full Moon and Empty Arms” (and other moon songs) and the Piano Concerto No. 2 by Rachmaninov. Lunatics were thought to be affected by the moon (*luna*), and cartoons in the “Loony Tunes” canon explored the humorous extremes of visual farce. The moon is “out of this world” wonderful, but also a welcome familiar visitor.
Thank you Melanie
I loved all the thoughts about the moon
mystery, grace
held tenderly
embraced and carried
given and shared
received so humbly
oh how I love the light of the moon
Hi Sister, Melanie, and thank you for this post on the Moon. Being a lover of all things space, I love to point my telescope to view, photograph and discover God fingerprints. One of my earlier videos captures the moon up close, where I am always astounded by the shadows cast from the mountains and peaks on the lunar surface. You can view this by searching my name in YouTube and viewing Astro Pics 4. I hope you will enjoy it.
Another thought-provoking reflection! Really enjoyed this one Sister. Thank you so much for your enlightening posts.
Once I was watching the sun set over the ocean from rocks on the shore. As it disappeared, I turned around and there was a huge, full moon just sitting on the horizon. As others turned around there was a collective “Ohhh” right along the rocks. I can picture it still!
So loved your moon reflection today
Melannie my sisters always end our talks at night with “I love you to the moon and back” Thanks for the videos especially the one “Playing with the Moon.
Thank you Sr. Melannie for today’s blog. My favorite times of watching the moon was when I lived on the Jersey shore and would walk down to the beach with a group of friends. I felt so close to God and so small and insignificant with all the beauty around me.
I enjoyed both videos but especially delighted in the creativity of “Playing with the Moon”.
God bless you Sister and God bless us all!
This is my favorite quote in your reflection Sr. Melannie: “The beauty of the moon is hidden in her scars.” (Anonymous) When Jesus arose on Easter, he never lost his scars either. Our scars are visible lessons.
Good morning.
When I think of the moon being 27 days, I think why are our months 30 days? There is natural science surrounded around the moon phases. Time based on the moon phases would make a lot of sense.
Sister Moon is always beside us whether or not we see her or not.
Passive, but never harmful like the sun we cannot stare at or bathe under
Without risk of blindness or skim cancer.
Her affect on tides behavior, &. women’s pregnancies as I learned as an OB nurse !
I seek her each night before sleeping. Look again for her each bathroom visit in my 88 th. Year of life!
Thank you God for this orb we love so much!
The older I get, the more I love the moon and enjoy celebrating the full moon every month! The videos are great! I love Playing With the Moon! Your writings, Sr. Melannie, are truly a gift and appreciated more than you know.
Thanks Sister Melannie, both videos were great but the 2nd one was my favorite.
Hope you have a great week.
Don’t you ever woder what the first “humans” thought about the moon — how it changed and came and went. So many myths and legends and stories,,,and religions and customs and names for the moon each month. And it’s like the ocean, it just keeps doing what it’s always done. While we can’t understand eternity, it’s intreesting to think about how long things go on the same in God’s plan. Thank you Sister, for making us pay attention to those things we take for granted and appreciating them.
Beautiful. I will have to check out your book.
Thanks for this blog
My favorite quote from the blog is :Be the moon and inspire people, even when you’re far from full.K.Tolnoe
Thank you 🙏, Sr. Melannie